Posts Tagged ‘BNSF’

March 6th, 2017: BNSF Railway (BNSF) will be forced to pay for the cleanup of Pacific Northwest waterways that were polluted for decades by coal or petroleum coke (“petcoke”) emitted from their open-topped train cars. A finalized consent decree lodged with U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour today brings to a close a Clean Water Act case brought against BNSF by a coalition of environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, Puget Soundkeeper, Columbia Riverkeeper, Spokane Riverkeeper, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

November 16th, 2016: "We are pleased that BNSF will seek to cover its dirty coal trains and clean up the pollution they've already spilled. It’s the simple solution.The railroad is not above the law." -Brett VandenHeuvel, Executive Director of Columbia Riverkeeper

October 27th, 2016: On Oct. 25, 2016, a federal judge decided that the citizens of Washington state will be able to present testimony about the environmental impact of coal dust from uncovered Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) coal trains on local waterways. The trial is scheduled to begin November 7 in Seattle. This is a win for those that work, live and recreate in the Columbia River, Puget Sound, Spokane River, and other Washington waterways that have been polluted by the dust of passing coal trains for decades.

In May 2017, Hanford made national news when a tunnel containing highly radioactive waste partially collapsed, triggering a shelter-in-place order for nearby workers and prompting widespread concerns about Hanford’s aging nuclear infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy (Energy) filled the tunnel with grout, a form of cement. Now, Energy seeks to fill a second, larger tunnel with grout. if left in place, the pollution in the tunnels—known as the PUREX tunnels—could pose long-term risks to soils, groundwater, and the Columbia River.

PGE wants to increase smog-forming pollution at its Carty Generating Station, a 450 MW fracked gas-fired power plant. The plant began operating in 2016. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) new draft air pollution permit would allow the Carty Generating Station to emit 800% more volatile organic compounds, a key component of low-level ozone (smog) formation. Join Riverkeeper urging DEQ to hold PGE to its current pollution limits, and not to open the door to more pollution from PGE’s new fracked gas power plant. ACT NOW!